Drawing press



Nov. 3o 1926; 1,608,531`

F; J. RODE DRAWING PRESS Filed Feb. 11, 1924 2 sheets-sheet 1 PRESSURESap/ay PRESSURE aP/Dm lNov. 30 1926. 1,608,534

y f F. J. RODE DRAWING PRESS Filed. Ffb-A ll, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2passt/KE ,SOPPLY Patented Nov. 30, 1925.

UNITED STATES FRIEDRICH J`. IEODE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR TOMARQUETTE TOOL da MANU- FACTURING CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

*PATENT OFFlCE.

DRAWING- IPRESS.

Application led February 11, 1924. Serial No. 691,911. i

In drawing sheet metal upon a drawing press a certain portion of thepower Vof the press is required to form the metal into the shape of thedie, but if the blank is to be held so as to prevent it from buckling orwrinkling during the forming operation, then additional power isrequired forthus holding the blank..

The type of die cushions heretofore vemployed, exerts its pressure uponthe blank holder ring and to overcome this pressure of the die andcushion, 'a portion of the power of the press must be employed.

It is one of the ob-jects of the present invention to provide improvedblank holding means which will obviate the necessity of utilizing any`portion of the power of the,l

press for actuating the' blank holding means, so that the entire power.of the press may be employed upon the work to shape the latter.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a press of thischaracter improved means whereby vthe parts of the blank holding meansmay be adjusted to compensate the adjustments of the ram or plungerrequired for the various kinds of work, that is the depth of the'draw-ofw different jobs and the thickness of the material, as welles anyother adjustments necessary for installation purposes.

A further object is to provide an improved structure of this' characterincluding tluid control cushioning means operating upon the draw ringand improved means for retarding the return of the draw ring. 4

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features ofnovelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangementof the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed andshown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention and inwhich- Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of a portion of a drawpress'having a cushioning device constructed in accordance with theprinciples'of this invention attached thereto and showing the parts inone position at lthe start of the drawing operation.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the parts'of the pressin the same position and with a portion of the cushion adjusted withrespect to the plunger or ram.

lment with the rods 18. The

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a f modifiedform of theinvention.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 1- 4, Figure1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 10 designatesthe bolster or bed plate of a draw press, ram or plunger, 12 a diemember carried by the plunger, 13 la forming block mounted upon the bedplate 10, 14 a draw ring encompassing 'the forming block andco-operating with the die member 12 to clamp the material 15, 16supporting pins for thedraw ring 14, and 17 a pin plate f against `whichlthe pins 16 rest the above referred to partsI are of the ordinary andwell-known construction in presses of this character.

hangcris. connected with the plunger 11l to depend therefrom andpreferably embodother extremities of the bars or rods are provided withscrew threads 20.

A supporting member' 21 is connected with the bars 18 preferably throughthe medium of threaded collars 22 which are journaled in the member 21and have engaethreads v20 on the respective member 21 is adapted to beadjusted upon the rods 18 toward and away from the plunger 11 byrotating the collars 22 and these collars fmay be rotated in anysuitable manner such as by means of an endless chain 23 which passesover toothed wheels (not shown) connected with the collars 22. f

Disposed between the pin supporting plate 17 and the supporting member21 is a Huid pressure cushioning device embodying a cylinder 24 which issupported by and secured to the member 21 in any desired or suitablermanner such as by means of fastening deable packing 30 may be providedto form a fluid tightl joint.

Discharging into the bottom of the cylinder onone side 0f the piston 26isa pipe 11 a.reciprocating to be supported thereby. All of 31 which isconnected with. any suitable lsource of iiuid pressure supply.

. The cylinder is provided with an open'- ing 32 in the wall thereofbetween the closed end 29and the other si-del of the piston 26, andconnected with this opening 32 is a pipe 33, which 'leads to a suitablesource of iiuid pressure supply-as at 34;

Interposed between the pipes 33 and 34 is a valve casing35, having anopening 36 to which the pipe 33 is connected and an openine 37 t-o`which the pipe 34 is connected.A T casing is alsov provided with anopening' 38 leading-'to the atmosphere. Within the casing 35 is a rotaryvalve 39 having an opening 40, and which opening is of such aconfiguration that the valve 39 may -be ro tated to connect the pipe 33with either the .opening 37 or 38 in the casing 35, to direct fluidpressure into'the'cylinder between the piston 26 andthe end 29 or topermit the escape of the fluid pressure from such portion of thecylinder through'the openingl 38 to the atmosphere. 'i

` Connected with the valve 39 is a handle or 'lever 41 adapted to beengaged by lingers or tappets" 42-43, adjustably connected With the rod44, aecordingto thedirection of movement of the rod.

30 The rod .44 is connected .with any suitable movable 'portion of thepress so that at va predetermined time 'in the cycle of operation of thepress the valve '39 will be automatically shifted; or rotated. -In the.operation of-the device the parts the power of the. press lso that theentire 10U will assume the position as shown in Figure 1'just atthecommencement of theformlng ofthe article. As the plunger 11 is loweredthe draw ring 14 will lbe depressed with respect to the forming block 13and the mate- Tlal 15 will be'formed-over the latter.- During .thedescent of the draw ring 14 the pin i ,plate 17 will `be lowered andwithit the pifs,

ton 26, the cylinder y24 being held stationary. or in a fixed ositionwith' respectv to the plunger .1.1. T e operation of the piston in thecylinder 24 will be against the Huid pressure in the bottom ofthe'cylinder -and during vthis `lowering movementrof the piston the valve39 will be in the position shown in Figure 1 to permit/outside air to bedrawn into the cylinder abovethe piston. t i

After the" article has been shaped tle plunger will begin to recede orascend and at this time in the operation of the apparatus the valve 39may be shifted so as to connect the pipe 34 with the pipe 33 to permitfluid pressureto be admitted linto the-cylinder 24 on the other side ofthe piston 26.

vIt will be noted that 'by reason ofthe piston I rod 27, 'the area onthe upperside ofthe piston 26 is reduced or .smaller than the area ofthe piston on the lower side. 'By reason of this construction there willbe a-shghtly greater fluid pressure against the pistonon the lowersidethan on the upper side and in for the purpose of a` clear understandingof this invention, does not constitute a portion of the subject matterof the present application but forms the subject matter of a copendingapplication, Serial Number 691,653.l

The blank holding means may be adjusted j to compensate the adjustmentsof the rain, orL

plunger required for various kinds of work, that is the depth of draw ofdifferent jobs and the varying sizes of the different dies, and vthis isaccomplished by' adjusting the collars 24 upon the rods 1 8V'to-move the.sup-l port'2l toward or away frdlii the plunger 11 and when s oadjusted will'remain in a fixed'.

position with respect tothe plunger..

Commercial sheets of metal from which the articles are formed upon thispress, vary in thickness to such an I.extent that it is frequentlynecessary to measure and assort the sheets.

By! the use .of the present invention the cushioning device willcause'the blank holding means to automatically adjust itself tocompensate the varying thickness the ma.

terial.

Vith this construction it will also be manifest that the strain of thecushioning device' and blank gripping means is separate from power ofthe press may be utilized in the formation of the article andno portionthereof will be employed for use in connection with the blank holding orgripping means.

. In the form of the invention shown in Figures 3 andv 4, supplementalmeans are provided for assisting in sustaining the.-

weight of certain portions of the mechanism such as the draw ring` 14,pins 16, pin plate 17, pistonrod 27 and piston 2 6.

This supplemental means is also prefer ably of a fluid pressure cushionconstruction, f

any number of which cushions may be employed.` Each of these cushioningdevices consists essentially of a cylinder 45 having a' piston 46therein. The'` piston may be adjustably connected with a'tubular pistonrod 47 and the piston and rod are anchored'tol the bed. or holsterplate'. 10, through the mediuln of .a bolt 48, which passes through thetubular memberf47, and has secured .to the free end thereof a nut orcollar 49. A washer -50 may be interposed between the nut or col,-

nlar and the end ofthe tubular member 37.

The-piston 46 may b e threaded as at 51 upon thetubular member 47 so asto relative adjustment thereof 'and discharging through the piston 46 isa pipe 52 and which pipe 52 is connected with anysuitabls'ouce of fluidpressure supply.

'lo l the Huid pressure acts, while described here- -sure maybe'led fromthe The cylinder is preferably open at its bottom and the closed end 53ofthe cylinder is engaged by the pin plate 17 and upon "which cylinderthe plate rests, the plate 17 bolug provided with openings 54 throughwhich the tubular 'member 47 loosely passes.

Any number of these supplemental cushinning devices may be providedandthe pipe 52 leading therefrom may be connected with the ,coupling 55so .that the fluid pres.- `source of supply and be distributed to thevarious cylinders 45 lin use, the 'supplemental cushioning device isemployed for sustaining the weight of the parts and after the formationof the' article or at any desired point in theffcycle of operation ofthe machine, Huid pressure may be admitted into or released from thecylinder-45 between the piston 46 and vthe closed end 43 of the cylinderand this fluid pressure may .be of any desired degreel in relation tothe fluid pressure in the blank holding cushioning device; s While thepreferred forms of the invention have been lherein shown and describedit is'to be understood that -various changes may be made in the detailsof construction and in the combination and arrangement of the severalparts, within the's'cope of the claims, without departing from thespiritof 'this invention.

WVhat is claimed as new iszl. A drawing press including a plunger, blankholding means -co-operating with the plunger toJ grip the work, a iiuidpressure cushion for the said blank holding means, saidcushionfincluding co-operating parts movable relatively one with respectto the other, means connecting one of the cushion parts with the 'blankholder, means securing the other part of the cushion tothe said plungerformovement therewith andl in a iixed position with respect thereto, andmeans for varying at will the fixed position of the plunger and thecushion part which is secured thereto.

Y 2. A drawing press including a plunger,Y

a blank holder co-operating with the plunger for clamping thedfwork,hangers depending trom the plunger, a support, means connecting thesupport with the hangers -for movement with the. plunger in a fixedposi.l 'tion with relation ,theretoI and 'for adjustment withrespect tothe plunger, and a fluid (pressure cushion including'a piston andl cyliner relatively movable one with respect to the other, the cylinder andpiston being connected `one with the said support and the other withvthe said blank holdingmeans.l

3. A drawing press'including a plunger,

a blank holder co-opera'tingz; with the plunger for clamping th. work,hangers depending from the plunger, a support, means'connectingthesupport with the hangers for moveor clamping.

er for clampingthe work, hangers depend- U ing from the plunger, asupport, means connecting the support with the hangers for movement withthe plunger in a fixed posi-l tion with relation thereto and foradjustpressure cushion including a piston and cylinder relativelymovable one with respect to the other, thecylinder and piston beingconnected one with the the other with the said blank holding` means,means for supplying fluid pressure yto one side of the cushion, andmeans for supplyinglat will, fluid pressure tothe other side of the saidcushion.

blank holder co-operating with the plunger the work, hangers dependingfrom the plunger, a support, means connecting the support with thehangers for movement with the plunger in a fixed position with relationthereto and for ad]ust ment with respect to the'plunger, a fluidpressurecushion including a pistonV and'cylinder relatively movable onewith respect to the other, the cylinder and piston being con- .saidsupportv and.,

`. ment with yrespect to the plunger, a lluid 5. A drawing pressincluding a plunger, a I

nected one with the said support and the other withy the said blankholding means,

means for supplying fluid pressure to one*L sidey ofy the cushion, andmeans operating automatically to supply pressure 'to-the other side ofthe cushion.

6. A drawing press including a plunger,

a blank holder co-operating with the plunger for clamping the work,hangers depending from the plunger, a support, means connecting thesupport with the hangers for movement with `the plunger in a xed i-Ation with relation thereto and for ad]ust mentr with respect to Jtheplunger, a fluid pressure cushion including a piston and inderrelatively movable onewith respect t'o the other, the cylinder andpiston being connected one with the vsaid support and the other "withthe said blankholding means,

lmeans for supplying luid pressure to one side of the cushion,- andmeans including valve mechanismh for directing pressure to the otherside of the .cushion to operate in opposition to the liid pressure onthe lirst' recited side of lthe cushion.

'Z'.v A drawing press including a plunger, l'

a blank holder co-operating with the plunger for clamping the work,hangers Adepending from the plunger, support, ymeans connecting ythesupport with the hangers for A movementI with-the plunger in a xedposi-vl tion with relation thereto and for adjustment with respect tothe plunger, -a fluid.

pressure cushion including a piston andy cylinder relatively-movable onewith respect to the other, the cylinder and piston being connected onewith the said support and the l0 other with the said blankholding'means,

andadditional means for sustaining -the from the plunger, a support,means con- .lnecting the support with the hangers or movement with theplunger in a ixed position with relation thereto and for adjustment withrespect to the'A plunger, a fluid pressure cushion .including a pistonand cylinder relatively movable one with respect l to the other, thecylinder and piston'being connected one with .the said support and theother with the said blank holding means,

andadditional fluid pressuremeans for sustaining -tlie weight of certainofthe said parts. t 1 9. A drawing press 'including a plunger, a

3,0.bla'nk'holder co-operating with the plunger for clamping the work, alfluid pressure cushion for the blank holder, said .cushion includingrelatively movable parts, and

means adjustably securing one of the parts of the cushion to the plungerfor movement therewith and in a iixed position with relation thereto,the said blank holding means operating to compensate the varying thick--esses in the material being operated upon and while a uniform pressure1s bemg maintained upon the said blank .holding means. v'

10. In a power press, the combination with a sheet metal forming die,fluid pressure means for holding the blank, said means in-v cluding apiston and cylinder-members, one of the said members being adjustablyconnected With a movable part of the press, and means whereby theposition of the piston Within the cylinder, one with relation to theother, will remain constant during the forming of the material.A 11. Ina power press, 'the combination with a sheet/.metal forming die, fluidpressure mea-ns for holding the blank, said means including apiston andcylinder members, one of the said members being adjustably connectedwith a movablev part of the press, and means vwhereby the -pressure uponthe,

material will' remain constant during the 60 forming operation. p Y In'testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. on this5th da of February, A. D. 1924.

FREDRICH J. Ropa.r

